64 THE OAKS OF KYBE. [Nov., 



came before him, he was wont to adjourn to the old Yew tree. Courts 

 Leet and Courts Baron were also held under this tree. A little to 

 the left of this interesting spot there is a fine grove of Scotch Fir trees, 

 the plants of which are said to have been sent over by King James, 

 and by him called Scotch Firs. Directly opposite to this grove are the 

 far-famed Oaks referred to by Habiugdon, the antiquary, who, writing 

 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, says: 'The park of Kyare 

 "Wyard is worthy to be mentioned, being adorned wil.h so many tall 

 and mighty Oaks, as scarce any ground in England can show so 

 many.' Twenty Oak trees have fallen this spring in this grove 

 and the adjoining field, and have been sold for £1,000, and these are 

 by no means the finest trees. On an area of six acres there are now 

 standing about one hundred ' tall and mighty Oaks ' ranging from 80 

 to 126 ft. high, and measuring from 10 to 26 ft. in circumference, five 

 feet from the ground, and estimated to contain 22,000 ft. of timber- 

 In the Hannings Grove adjoining, but in the county of Worcester, 

 there stands within an area of one hundred square yards three 

 Oak trees with 1,050 ft. cubical contents. 



In the year 1874 a grove of twelve acres on the east side of the 

 road, which intersects this estate fur a distance of six miles, was 

 thinned, and the produce realized at an auction sale £6,080. 



One of the farm-houses on this estate, called ' Netherwood,' is said 

 to have been the birthplace of Queen Elizabeth's favourite, the Earl of 

 Essex. The mansionis surrounded by remarkably picturesque grounds, 

 the lakes are covered M^ith most beautiful water lilies, and the walks 

 are shaded by every description of rare and charming trees and 

 shrubs. On the banks of one of the lakes is a curious hermitage 

 with several quaint specimens of ancient poetry in English and 

 Latin. 



' The Olive Album.' — Messrs. Marion & Co. have sent us a copy of ' The 

 Olive Album,' which, like all the work that is issued by this eminent and 



enterprising firm, is in the highest degree artistic and beautiful. The cover 



in whole calf, with its thin border of gold and the solitary figure of a lily 

 raised in relief, enamelled in green and white and set oif wiih gold — affords an 

 illustration of elegaut simplicity not often found in articles of this kind. The 

 designs within are executed upon an olive-green ground in gold and colours, and 

 the flowers, which are conspicuous in the ornamentation, are executed with 

 wonderful fidelity to nature, the lilies, tulips, and mistletoe deserving special 

 praise. Altogether, with its elegant clasp, this is a very chaiming album, and 

 must surely attract unusual attention during the coming presentation season 

 for we can scarcely conceive that one could select, of its kind, a more elegant o-ift. 



Appointment.— Mr. John Leishman, who has been furemau to Mr. J. Michie 

 Balmoral, for the last three years, has lately been appointed Forester to Captain 

 Palmer Douglass, on the estate of Cavers, near Hawick, N.B, 



